Projects and plans, thoughts and travels, quilts and knitting, cats and critters, fiber and fun and folks

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Home Again, Home Again

Lots and lots of goodies to share after my almost-two-weeks away! First, here's the stuff from Stitches West that followed me home. In back some spun silk and natural alpaca (both from Village Weaving and Spinning in Solvang), then (l to r) some Geisha, Spectrum, and STR Lucy from Blue Moon; some lovely heathered alpaca from Honey Lane; two shades of KPM, one from Yarn Lady and one from Foxyknits; and finally a lovely celery-green alpaca/silk, also from Village.

Came home to some mini daffs blooming in the yard. These little guys are barely 3" tall. Can you tell how dry and hard the soil has baked? It's been a very dry winter and there's no rain in the forecast. Scary. (This picture is especially for you, Sheepie!) By contrast, here's a view of sunset at Asilomar the first night we were there. It did rain but only overnight; the days were clear, crisp, and very pleasant. Such bliss to work in such beautiful surroundings--I promise, I'll also post some pictures of the deer and the ocean and even of our little classroom building. We had a fire in the fireplace every morning (the elves come and lay it while we're at breakfast, apparently) and three meals a day, cooked by someone else and the dishes done by someone else too--a great week. What did I do, you may ask? Well, here's one of my projects--the top is cut off but it does have full side and top and bottom borders. We were working on exploring the three-dimensional look--I think this quilt top is pretty successful at that. The blocks really do look 3-D and seem to float right off the quilt. I'm going to try to get this one, and the other project which I'll post later, quilted and ready for classes on the next shop schedule.

If you want to read more about our adventures at Stitches West--it was a real hoot, a great trip!--check out Jillian, Madge, Mary, and Annette's take on it. We even got to meet THE Ellen Bloom! Ellen even posted a pic of us on her blog--here it is, "borrowed" and with many thanks!I think there are quite a few of us who will be making plans to return next year. I'm hoping to even have some wonderful hand-knits to wear. Can you spot the two SKBs in this photo, and Jillian's Marilyn? (She's got a good series of photos of it and details on her blog today.)Lots more things to talk about but I'm still in the process of wrapping up now that I'm back home again. Two weeks is a long time to be away! No laundry facilities, for one thing, so I brought home a large suitcase full of grubbies. Most of the cats were pretty blase about my return, except for Hi-Hi (aka the big fat fluffball) who has barely left my side whenever I'm here. Even wakes me up during the night for reassurance that I really am here. Sigh. I guess it's nice to be loved.

Wow! is all I am able to say at the moment about your quilt top. It looks like a 3D video game; my son and hubby would love it. So glad we hit Stitches together and it's definitely on the calendar again next year... with you!

The yarn haul is terrific! Should you, Madge, and I get together for a STR Lucy KAL?? Love the photo of the group at Stitches West, and the mini-daffs are so great. LA Times on Sunday said the area has had less than 2.5in of rain since July. Dry, dry, dry.

WOW! That quilt top is fab. This picture really shows it's 3Dness (is that a word?) I can't imaging seeing it in real life, it must make your head spin. Knitter, gardening and quilter....you are mightly talented!!

VERY COOL QUILT! Beautiful stash enhancement too. I bought the Lucy STR also. I haven't posted about the Stitches trip yet. I'm having a hard time catching up on everything, but I will soon. I had a great time hanging out with you and I'm already looking forward to next year. :)